The Tok'ra Question

[KorbenDirewolf]

This is something that has been bothering me for a long time. Why to the Tauri insist on contining relations with the Tok'ra? They seem to be more trouble than they are worth. The Tok'ra (as a group) don't seem to do very much to further their end of the alliance, even when they were operating at normal capacity. If the Tauri are expected to share all information relating to the Goa'uld, why shouldn't the Tok'ra do the same? Several times they have given up information only when it became unavoidable. For example, they suspected the existance of the zatarc mind control technology, yet did not inform the SGC so they could not take steps against it.

The picture I've seen of the Tok'ra is that they are a bunch of lesser Goa'uld without all of the bad habits. An yet they go on and on about NEVER taking an unwilling host, yet Jolinar did it at least once, possibly twice (the Naysian and Carter). Spoiler in white- Season 5 Summit/Last StandLantash took Elliot as an unwilling host. At the least the Tok'ra seem to hold themselves as being somehow "above" mere unblended humans. Do the Tauri really need to continue this alliance?

[Whitster]

Well there is now alliance now is there.

[veneticuss]

Well no there is not, but an aliance was worth anyway.
The Tokra did also a lot to SGC,
e.g.: curing Jack, a lot of infos, helping to solve some problems (the naquadah meteorit...) etc.

[KokiriChild]

Yeah, I think they're ok to have as an ally, better some information and help than no information and help - look at when they tried to retrofit a death glider - Jacob/Selmak had to come and help, he did it without even thinking twice.

[KorbenDirewolf]

Maybe so. but still: Jolinar took Carter as an unwilling host, something the Tok'ra never do. In "The Tok'ra (Part 1)" the Tok'ra say there is nothing the Tauri can offer them except hosts. In "Jolinar's Memories" Lantash withholds details of the mission until they absolutely cannot proceed without them. In "The Devil You Know" Aldwin decides SG-1 is expendable and nearly kills them. In "Upgrades" Anise uses O'Neill, Jackson and Carter as labrats, and even sends them on a mission, knowing the experiment could go wrong at any time. After Shau'nac gives her snake to the Tok'ra, Anise refuses to allow the Tauri to ask him for information. It seems to me that they've gotten the most out of this bargin. Even O'Neill's cure didn't go as planned.

[i]Spoiler - Abyss
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Kanan took Jack into Ba'al's secret base on a mission he knew nothing about

[veneticuss]

Well thats the Tokra mentality. You just need to understand them better, understand their position. Anyway their would be no SGC now without The Tokra helping SGC to get rid of The Reetou and many more problems.

[KokiriChild]

Yeah, a little ally is better than no ally

*feeling Deja Vouxiersz... damn French spelling*

[Teal'c]

Yes, but how many times have we done things after receiving Tok'ra intel?

[veneticuss]

A lot of times!

[KorbenDirewolf]

Yes, but how many times have we done things after receiving Tok'ra intel?

And how many of those would have been unnecessary had the Tok'ra not interfered?

[shelsfc]

Well, they're better to have as an ally than as an enemy. Anyway, since the SGC & the Tok'ra are both working for the same thing, it makes sense for them to work together.

[KorbenDirewolf]

It would if they would ever, well... Actually work together. The majority of the Tok'ra seem to think the Tauri are just a bothersome, but somewhat helpful, group of humans. Won't go into detail here, but I'm thinking of "Death Knell" in particular as an example of this.

[shelsfc]

True, but then think of eps like Jolinars Memories/The Devil You Know. It's unlikely Martouf would have been able to rescue Jacob without SG1. I know it's only a minor example, but still...

[KorbenDirewolf]

Maybe so. But in those episodes Martouf was very secretive about the plan in general. As well Aldwin (supported by the High Council) deciding Carter, O'Neil, Teal'c, Selmak and Lantash weren't worth saving at all.

Could just be that I have an unrational dislike for the Tok'ra.

[dorien]

Why to the Tauri insist on contining relations with the Tok'ra? They seem to be more trouble than they are worth. The Tok'ra (as a group) don't seem to do very much to further their end of the alliance, even when they were operating at normal capacity. If the Tauri are expected to share all information relating to the Goa'uld, why shouldn't the Tok'ra do the same? Several times they have given up information only when it became unavoidable.

You've just described the alliance that the U.S. has with Russia concerning matters of the stargate. In any alliance, each party will put its own best interests above that of a common goal.

While the tok'ra and taur'i share a common enemy, they have opposing methods on how to defeat that enemy. The tok'ra infiltrate and sabotage. The taur'i go with a frontal assualt. Of course there will be conflict. But working together is better than seperate efforts that may undermine what the other is doing.